CHESHIRE, Conn. (WTNH) — The clutter-filled home of a Cheshire woman has now been torn down.

Beverly Mitchell died in her Winslow Road home after health officials say the first floor collapsed into the basement under the weight of the clutter. Today crews demolished the house, filling four dumpsters with the debris. Many complained about a moldy odor while Mitchell lived in the home and now more so during the demolition.

Millie Kennedy, who lives across the street says, “It was overwhelming, the smell of all the stuff that came out of that thing up there.” Kennedy says her 66-year-old neighbor would say “hi” when she would get the mail and then she’d toss much of that mail in one of the two cars in her driveway.

Today’s demolition is a welcome sight for neighbors who say people have been constantly coming by. “I’m even afraid to cross the street to get my mail ‘cause sometimes they come speeding down here … to take a look at that house,” Kennedy said.

Neighbor Mary Stopkoski believes Mitchell had been living in the basement when she was suffocated by the fallen debris. She says, “You watch it this morning, and it’s sad that her whole life she thought, ‘Oh, this stuff is so important,’ and here it is in three roll-off dumpsters and she’s still gone.”

Crews expect to complete the demolition and have the site cleared on Friday.

Mitchell was described as a recluse by many. She lived alone in the run-down house with no running water. Family members were contacted and agreed to the town tearing the house down.

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